-holiday76

yesterday i tested out what is going to be my new commute, 15 miles on a bike trail! the only pic i took was of my bike though..

jan nikolajsen 

If it's a nice looking thing like that, then you'll be excused!

bigbossman 

Change of pace today. 50 mile flat spin in and around the Sacramento Delta area. No traffic (save the last sprint across the Rio Vista Bridge), decent enough roads, 2 ferry rides, great company. Even the weather was good enough - high 50's, no wind, high overcast. I think we got all of 300 feet in climbing, mostly going up and down the sides of various levee's.

Flat roads:




Delta house. It's on stilts, because the land its on is below sea level, behind the levee:


Typical delta resident, relaxing in his living room with a rusted out Varsity:


This draw bridge has a yellow troll:


Ferry No.1:


Up-river - ferry No.2:


A bit of frivolity on the ferry:


My ride for the day - a 1980 Mondia Super:


Rio Vista Bridge, prior to crossing. Lots of traffic, at speed - no real shoulder. Muscle up and sprint!:

bikingshearer 

^^^ Yep, a great day.




BTW, who is that handsome, debonair fellow in the lovely Molteni maillot jaune (replica of Merckx's 1972 TdF golden fleece) with that stunning example of a Chicago Paramount?

Roger M

We had some pretty heavy rains over the weekend, along with local flooding in the valleys. The sun came out this morning for a few minutes, so I took Thomas down to Snohomish to watch the river crest. It was only 14 miles there and back, but a good truck nonetheless.

This is dropping into the Snohomish Valley. The floods in past years have completely submerged these farmlands. This time was pretty mild.



There was quite a bit of debris floating in the river, Thomas thought the floating pumpkins were pretty cool. I'm not sure how far above flood stage this is, but I would guess maybe 8-10 feet. A couple years ago, those garage doors on the white building were under water. We had some pretty harsh weather that year. That is a MUP path thats under water.



This is the same area, looking from the other direction.



He's not 3 until the end of February, but He's already a good stoker.

Old Fat Guy

No real pics, because there was nothing different than the other rides, but I did book and cook, at least for an old, fat, guy. Fastest ride on this route for the year, so far.




I rode this, tubulars and all. It's a wonder I'm still alive:

auchencrow

I pass a couple lakes on my route each day... Now that the weather has cooled down a little, I considered doing a loop or two on the lake for some extra fun - but then I reconsidered because it was kind of solitary, and I still have dependents.

jan nikolajsen 

As is usual for this time of the year I have to endure, I mean enjoy a good 3 weeks with my in-laws in So Cal. Mostly I just eat, post on BF and ride.

Luckily some of my favorite roads in the West is starting from the door step here in Glendora.

Today was day four of riding. Total ascent so far 11000'. Total mileage, about 110 miles.

Sonja and I went together yesterday:



Day 5: Epic ride today. Had to go because a moist pineapple express is hitting CA over the next 4 days, probably closing things down. But even today in the mountains it was foggy, damp and grim. Rode the GMR to the GRR to Goat saddle, a 50 mile round trip with 5700' of climbing. We were sweaty and soaked through from the dampness, so after our break at the top we shivered with cold. Nice state to be in before a 25 mile 4-6% downhill!

Sonja rode her 531/ Campy friction Colin Laing, i was on the Razesa:

Drillium Dude 

Only a 20-mile shakedown ride with the newly-built Sparrow, but it really opened my eyes. What a great, stiff climber. Must be those fat chainstays and the stout Weinmann concave rims on those medium-flange Phil Woods. Solid performer, that bike. I'm going to be out on it a lot in the Spring.

Here's us in the driveway before departure (finished with coffee and muffin at Starbucks):



Weather: 40F and clear. A bit of remaining water on the roads, but nothing to worry about. Nice ride...

DD

YoKev

I got a nice 2.5 hour cruise in on my classic Dean today. Temps in the mid 20's and lots of ice and frost heaves made for an interesting trek through the wooded parts of my vision quest. Sitting on the ledge at the overlook and listening to light saberish sounds as the ice cracked and echoed off the walls was totally unreal!

Mid ride powerline section:


Overlook to quarry pond:


Horroble timed picture at the overlook:

AZORCH

It's the first day of winter and I feel the weather has cooperated enough that I've managed to get in about forty miles over the past two days. Yesterday was in the upper forties and today began in the upper thirties but it was sunny and relatively windless, and hit somewhere around 43 degrees by the time I'd begun the return loop. For about seven months out of the year I manage to get in close to two hundred miles a week but once the weather turns nasty, my outdoor mileage plummets and it's back to the boring old indoor trainer. And despite the regular hours on said trainer, I can't believe how fast my endurance loss takes place. I took my winter bike out for yesterday and today's runs on old roads with plenty of rolling hills north of my home. In the summer months a 20 mile run will barely get my heart pumping, but couple the cold with lack of outdoor training and I found myself huffing and puffing on a couple of inclines! I can't say enough about wind tights and long sleeve merino wool tops on a day like today, by the way.

Oregon Southpaw

I got a nice 50 miler in this morning.


This was outside of a log mill in Brownsville, Oregon. I think they're poplars, planted around here in tree farm arrangements.


Alongside the William Findley wildlife refuge.


A car graveyard near Monroe. Lots of old cars abandoned deep in the underbrush. Wonder what the story is about that...


One of a million steep hills I climbed today near Alpine. The road surface is such that the descents are just slightly less enjoyable than the ascents.

curbtender

"This was outside of a log mill in Brownsville, Oregon. I think they're poplars, planted around here in tree farm arrangements."

Looks like Birch. My wife must think I work at a nursery, she's always asking "where's your aspen?"

Rob Glatfelter

Man these are some really beautiful areas.
I would love to go on a ride with some of you guys.
Anyone know of any scenery like this around northern IL?

Also, I broke 300 miles for December yesterday, I think that's not bad for Chicago and not having had any time to do a "ride" out of the city, unfortunately though, no "I went here today!" goodness.

YoKev

I got a couple of lung burning hours outside on this chilly Christmas Eve. Starting temp was 18ºF and had warmed up to the mid 20's by the end.

Ice on the Hudson River:



Oil tank ruins:


One of the tunnels to ride through:



In a tunnel with old mine machinery and ice hanging from the ceiling:




Merry Christmas you filthy animals!

Old Fat Guy

No chance to get out on Christmas Day, though it was very warm here today, albeit windy. I did manage a nice ride yesterday, on Christmas Eve. My usual route, 30 leisurely miles though Paradise Valley, in the Mummy Mtn area.

Here is the North side, looking East, Four Peaks in the distance. The roads suck in PV, the frost heaves are killer



Up to the top of Hummingbird, ready for the roller coaster down, sharp right back up.



Stopped at the top just for you folks, looking off to the North East. I think I can see RFC's house from here.



Heading down for the last blast, a 40+mph coast, coming back up at 12%+ is harder.



Long shadows, even at noon



Heading back up, hill repeats are good for you. Rich people live up there.



Stopped at the top to take a picture for you folks, the road drops pretty fast here.



Now I'm down South of Mummy, on the North side of Camelback. That's the head of the camel, and the Praying Monk rock formation just above and to the right of my house.



Barry Goldwater's house, overlooking the Camelback Inn GC. Barry knew real estate.



All in all a great ride.

Drillium Dude 

OFG, thanks for the memories! I haven't ridden in that area since 1985 and it doesn't look to have changed too much. Very cool!

(Yes, folks - those are some pretty steep climbs)

DD

jan nikolajsen 

Good to see you got out there, OFG.

Sonja and I had a good Christmas Day outing. Thanks to the grandparents we could sneak away on this, to younger individuals especially, important day.

We went to Baldy Village and back, from Glendora. This is a classic climb with amazing views and scenery, but also a bit strenuous on top of two other big days. Restday tomorrow! 50 miles, 6150'.

Old Fat Guy

Jan,

PM me your new address, I have some recorded rarities for you. I'm hoping for a 50 mile 6k'+ ride in the near future. I have a route mapped, just need a partner to ride with that likes pain.

DD I took it easy yesterday, if I was really working I would have done N&S sides of Mummy, Sage on the East of Camelback, and the two killer climbs on the S side of Camelback. The 21%+ up Dromedary is killer, in a good way. The lack of traffic is amazing, though there are lots of touristas in town this week

Mike Mills

We did a round trip on the bike path from the Redondo Beach pier north to El Porto and "The Machine".

snarkypup

Brief break in the Christmas week rain, and I made it out onto the trail by my house. Only did about eight miles, though it is flat all the way. The headwind was blowing like crazy on the way out, and I didn't have more than about half-an-hour, plus a few minutes to stop and take pictures, since I also stopped to adjust the bars and seat on the Panasonic to try to get it comfy until I can get a taller stem. Bars are rolled way up, seat's up and back, and it feels pretty good. Not exactly totally comfy, but much, much better. Hopefully I'll get a longer ride in soon.

Pics:

On a bike trail, obviously... this is the "welcome to my town" sign. We're a bike-friendly place.

christmasridepics1 by snarkypup, on Flickr

On the old railroad bridge over the Cedar river.

christmasridepics5 by snarkypup, on Flickr

Close up:

christmasridepics4 by snarkypup, on Flickr

Speed limits? We don't need no stinkin' speed limits! Honestly, officer, I can't tell how fast I'm going on this machine. I was just adjusting the radio... I was just following the guy in front...

christmasridepics3 by snarkypup, on Flickr

.baker

It snowed early for georgia this year, its rare anyway and never before the new year. I got out and did a few miles roads were just wet with no ice, snow barley stuck.

-holiday76

i rode around my 'hood testing out my new 700c SA AW wheel, cross tires, etc.

YoKev

Nice Holiday76

No riding for me today, but better, time to go play in the snow! We got about 20 inches, with drifts much deeper in places. Winds were pretty consistently strong today. I got out on a three hour snow shoe bushwack/hike up at the Mohonk Preserve today. First tracks Man, this stuff was plenty deep in in lots of pockets, and I was literally blown over by the wind in some exposed areas!

Peter_B

I rode up the San Diego county coastline from La Jolla to Leucadia and back on my steel Luongo. Clear skies, sunshine, sun sparkling on the ocean, cool temperature, slight head wind riding north but not oppressive. It was a great winter's day in San Diego.